Cleaning and scouring rotary attachment device



A ril 14, 1964 D. L. STROMINSKI 3,128,439

CLEANING AND SCOURING ROTARY ATTACHMENT DEVICE Filed April 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

DENZEL LORENE STROMINSKI ATTORNEYS April 1964 D. STROMINSKI 3,128,489

CLEANING AND SCOURING ROTARY ATTACHMENT DEVICE Filed April 23, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DENZEL Lonsus' STROMINSKI MYMQ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,128,489 CLEANW G AND SQQURING RQTARY ATTACHMENT DEVICE Denzel Lorene Strominski, 662 S. Shore Drive, Edvvardsirurg, Mich. Filed Apr. 2.3, 1962, Ser. No. 189,500 4 Claims. (Cl. 1523tl) The present invention relates to a cleaning and scouring rotary attachment device and more particularly to a device utilizing a replaceable abrasive pad or the like for cleaning pans, skillets, pots and similar utensils. This is a continuation-inpart of my copending application, Serial No. 121,936, filed July 5, 1961, now abandoned.

Power operated devices and apparatus for securing pots and pans in the home have been tried before, but these previousl developed devices have had a number of inherent disadvantages which have rendered them impractical or inconvenient for use over extended periods of time. The type of scouring material usually used in the prior types have primarily been either of the wire brush type, which is not only dangerous to use and diflicult to clean after each scouring operation, but is often relatively expensive and inconvenient to replace, or of the steel wool type which is used until it becomes permanently impregnated with foreign matter or is worn to the extent that it is no longer emcient or eliective in performing the cleaning operation. Thereafter, replacement of the steel wool material is a tedious and messy operation which is diflicult to perform by the average housewife, and consequently, the device is usually not maintained in a serviceable condition or used for any extended period of time. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a cleaning and scouring rotary attachment device utilizing a scouring pad of the steel wool type, which is so constructed and arranged that the pad can be effectively used for extended periods of time without attention or servicing and which can be readily replaced when Worn or otherwise unserviceable without the operators handling or touching either the discarded or replacement pads.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scouring pad holding and operating device which permits the operator of the device to apply a substantial amount of pressure on the device and pad and hence on the baked grease and other foreign substances on pans, pots, Skillets and similar utensils, to obtain optimum cleaning action without damaging the utensils, and which is so constructed that it can be effectively used to reach into corners, grooves, and other depressions and recesses for a thorough cleaning and scrubbing operation.

A further object is to provide a cleaning and scouring device which can be easily maintained in a sanitary and serviceable condition, though repeatedly used, and which can be readily and efiectively adapted to a number of various makes of equipment used in the kitchen of the average household.

Additional objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present cleaning and scouring apparatus illustrating the manner in which the device is used in cleaning a pan, the pan being shown in vertical cross section;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the present cleaning and scouring device, showing it detached from the motor illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal cross sectional View of the device shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the section being taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross sectional view of the lower portion of the device shown in the preceding figures, the section being taken on line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross sectional view of the lower portion of the device shown in the preceding figures, the section being taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view of the present device showing the device without the scrubbing material secured therein;

FIGURE 7 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of a cleaning and scrubbing device embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical cross sectional view of the lower portion of the cleaning and scrubbing device shown in FIGURE 7, the section being taken on line 88 of the latter figure; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view of the device shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, taken on line 9-9 of FIGURE 7.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, numeral 16 designates the present cleaning and scouring device, and numeral 12 a conventional pan illustrating the manner in which the present device is used, the complete apparatus consisting generally of an electric motor 14 having a handle 16 and a cord 18, and numeral 20 indicating generally the present device attached to and operated by electric motor 14. The motor may be considered conventional for the purpose of the present description and is of a type extensively used in household kitchens for driving a variety of difierent types of attachments, including mixing, stirring and heating units. The present device is attached to the motor for rotation thereby, using Well known standard or conventional fixtures for at taching stirrers and heaters normally used in conjunction with the motor and hence need not be described in detail herein.

The device forming the principal part of the present invention consists of a cup-shaped body portion 22 having a disc-shaped top 24 and cylindrical side walls or skirt 26 formed integrally with top portion 24, the cupshaped body preferably being formed of metal or plastic material having sufiicient rigidity that it Will not flex substantially or become distorted while it is being used. The lower edge of side walls 26 are preferably enclosed by a rubber or plastic guard 28, which is U-shaped in cross section, and is adapted to slide onto and be secured to the lower edge of walls 26. Normally the guard is merely slipped onto the lower edge of the walls in such a manner that it can be easily removed whenever the unit is cleaned in order to assure thorough cleaning of the device. Mounted within the cup-shaped body is a clamp 30 rigidly secured within the body on the lower end of a stem 32, the stem extending downwardly through a hole in the upper portion of the clamp and having threadedly received thereon a nut 34. Stem 32 is the primary drive shaft for the device and is provided with a tongue 36 for seating in a fixture of motor 14.

The clamp shown in FIGURE 5 consists of a cylindrical-shaped member 40 of spring metal or other resilient material and two clamp elements 42 and 44 projecting through a longitudinal slit 46 in the lower portion of member 40 and extending upwardly through slots in the upper portion of member 40 and outwardly through a slot 48 in top 24 of cup-shaped body 22. The lower edges of elements 42 and 44 contact one another and are preferably provided with interlocking teeth 49 to securely grip the scouring pad or other material. The upper ends of elements 42 and 44 terminate in handle portions 50 and 52 which provide levers for the operator to press inwardly to open clamping elements 42 and 44 for receiving the scrubbing pad, or other type of material. The stem 32 and nut 34 are rigidly secured to clamp 30 and the two outwardly projecting handle portions 50 and 52 releasably retain the clamp and body 24 firmly and rigidly together so that the stem, body and clamp all rotate in unison while the device is being used for cleaning and scrubbing. The cup shaped body can be removed from clamp and stem 32 when the handles are pressed inwardly against the stem.

The foregoing device is used in conjunction with a scouring pad indicated by numeral 60, consisting of steel wool or other wire abrasive-type material in the form of a pad. This pad may contain a suitable scrubbing pow der or other type of detergent for effective cleaning and scrubbing action. The pad is inserted in the device by first pressing handles 50 and 52 inwardly toward one another, thereby opening elements 42 and 44, placing the pad between the elements by merely seating the device on the upper surface of the pad and then releasing the two handles, thereby permitting the two elements to clamp the pad firmly therein.

In the use of the device with the scouring pad mounted in the foregoing manner, the stem 32 is secured to motor 14 and the motor placed in operation. As stem 32, body 22, clamp 30 and scouring pad 60 rotate in unison, the operator moves the scouring pad over the surface to be cleaned. In view of the rigid construction of body 22, particularly the downwardly projecting walls or skirt 25, a substantial amount of pressure can be applied to the pad to obtain optimum cleaning and scouring action. The pad being of compressible, flexible and resilient material easily extends into depressions, crevices, grooves and corners to effectively remove any foreign matter from those areas. Whenever the pad has been used to the extent that it is no longer suitable for effective cleaning action, the operator merely presses handles 50 and 52 inwardly toward one another, thereby moving ele ments 42 and 44 apart and permitting the pad to drop from clamp 30. A new pad is then inserted in the manner previously described.

The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 is essentially the same as the one described above, the primary difference consisting of the type of clamp and the manner in which the clamp, body and stem are secured to one another. In view of the similarity, like numerals will be used to designate like parts, The clamp 70 consists of a cylindrical body portion of resilient metal, having a longitudinal slit 74 extending the full length thereof, and operating elements 76 and '78, extending from grooves 80 and 82 in the lower portion of cylindrical member 72, upwardly through slots in the upper sides thereof and outwardly through slot 84 in top 24. The upper ends of elements 76 and 78 are provided with handles 85 and 88, which permit clamp 70 to be used in the same manner in which clamp. 30 is used to clamp and to release a scouring pad or the like. The lower end of stem 32 extends downwardly through the opening in top 24 and through a hole in the upper side of the clamp, and the lower end of the stem is riveted or otherwise formed to secure the clamp 70 to the stem. The device of this modified form is used and operated in the same manner as the first embodiment described herein.

The present device is designed for use either with the mixer type motor or with its own separate and possibly permanently attached motor. The latter type would normally be lighter and would be more convenient in using the device in cleaning ovens and the like where holding the device and motor while they are operating may be difficult.

While only two embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein, various changes and further modifications may be made to satisfy requirements.

I claim:

1. A cleaning and scouring device, comprising a rotatable stem adapted to be releasably attached at its upper end to said motor, a downwardly facing cup-shaped body having a disc-shaped top and cylindrical side walls mounted on the lower end of said stem, a spring clamp in said cup-shaped body for releasably holding a pad of steel wool, said spring clamp including a cylindricallyshaped metal member split longitudinally along the bottom, and a pair of elements extending from the lower portion of said member upwardly through the top of said body on opposite sides of said stern forming handles for operating said clamp.

2. A cleaning and scouring device, comprising a rotatable stem adapted to be releasably attached at its upper end to a motor, a downwardly facing cup-shaped body on the lower end of said stem, a spring clamp in said cup-shaped body for releasably holding a pad of scouring material, and members attached to said spring clamp and extending upwardly through the, top of said body on opposite sides of said stem forming handles for operating said clamp.

3. A cleaning and scouring device, comprising a stem, a downwardly facing cup-shaped body having a discshaped top and cylindrical side walls mounted on the lower end of said stem, a spring clamp in said cup-shaped body for releasably holding a pad of scouring material, and members attached to said spring clamp and extending upwardly through the top of said body on opposite sides of said stem forming handles for operating said clamp.

4. In a cleaning and scouring device: a stem, a downwardly facing cup-shaped body on one end of said stem, a spring clamp in said cup-shaped body for releasably holding by spring action a pad of scouring material, operating handles for said clamp extending from said cupshaped body in spaced relation to said stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,520,596 Prather Dec. 23, 1924 2,166,343 Derkes July 18, 1939 2,496,972 Wolfe Feb. 7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 57,470 France Nov. 5, 1952 (Add) 1,064,981 France Dec. 30, 1953 609,710 Germany Feb. 21, 1935 

4. IN A CLEANING AND SCOURING DEVICE: A STEM, A DOWNWARDLY FACING CUP-SHAPED BODY ON ONE END OF SAID STEM, A SPRING CLAMP IN SAID CUP-SHAPED BODY FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING BY SPRING ACTION A PAD OF SCOURING MATERIAL, OPER- 